No Holds Barred With Stereo Kicks

X FACTOR UK STARS STEREO KICKS SIT DOWN WITH JUDGE LOUIS WALSH AND AXS TV TO TALK ABOUT LAST WEEK’S ELIMINATION, AND THEIR PLANS TO BECOME THE NEXT GREAT BOY BAND SENSATION

After eight weeks of competition, THE X FACTOR UK’s talent pool got a little smaller last night, as judge Louis Walsh’s last remaining act, eight-piece boy band Stereo Kicks, was sent home following a sing-off with Lauren Platt. AXS TV recently sat down with Louis and the boys, for a candid interview where they share their thoughts on the results, the incredible support they’ve received from fans, and their plans for the future.

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Walsh, who has been with Stereo Kicks since the very beginning of the show when they were first formed into the group they are today, was understandably upset by his final team’s elimination. But, he remains proud of their effort, and feels they have a very bright future ahead of them: “I believe in them a million percent. I cannot be more honest with you. I think they’ll have a great career. I just know there is something real and honest and amazing here, and when they sing in unison, it’s brilliant… I just want them to work and I want them to make it. They’re on the tour, which is incredible. They just need the all-amazing record deal. I know some label will absolutely want them.”

Walsh even went so far as to compare them to another well-known X-FACTOR castoff, who ultimately went on to conquer the world: “They’re like a new One Direction. There are young girls coming up who didn’t know One Direction, but they’re going to love this band. There is always going to be a need for new bands. Always. There would be a lot of girls screaming for these boys.”

With the judges voting split, the decision to send the boys home ultimately came down to a dead-lock, and it was Simon Cowell who sent it there. Walsh has pledged to make sure that he always remembers the role he played in their eviction: “I’m never going to let him forget it. When they sell all those records, I’ll say, ‘Remember when you voted them off?’ That’s what I feel, honestly. I am gutted. I’ve heard them sing, I know what’s there. I know the potential, that’s why I’m really annoyed.”

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For their part, though, the boys are thankful for Simon’s guidance, and value his insight, saying, “I think Simon and Louis have been really, really good to us throughout the whole competition. If you look back on the shows, there has never been once where Simon has really put us down… it’s not been criticism, it’s been constructive criticism.”

On their plans for the future, Stereo Kicks says, “I think what we need to do is just sit down, go through our own ideas, and actually bring our own ideas forward, and then see what comes out of that. I think people still forget bands spend years trying to make it in music… and I’m not saying we’ve made it, but we’re only together about three months, and we’re still finding ourselves, and we’re still trying to find what’s right for us… we’re extremely proud of where we’ve got to, from being eight lads put together in the space of three months.”

Although disappointed with the outcome, Stereo Kicks is overwhelmed and humbled by the fan response they’ve received from people all around the world, and they promise to use this as motivation going forward, saying, “We had some fan mail sent to the X-FACTOR house from Brazil, and they took so much time, they wrote letters to each of us individually… on some of the letters, it was like open them [when] you’re having a bad day or whatever, when you need some support. All of the support, literally everywhere, has been incredible, and none of us expected it.”

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They continue, “We’d like to thank our fans that have got us this far in the competition, because if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have even got to this stage. Everything we’ve done is for them, and we’re going to stick together, and we’re going to stay strong. We have the tour, and when we come back we’re going to do it for them. We’re going to come back stronger.”

Since being eliminated from the competition, Stereo Kicks and Walsh now find themselves in the role of spectator, free to enjoy the show from a fan’s point of view. When asked who they want to win it all, the choice was unanimous: “Ben [Haenow] is our boy. We’re using our five free votes on Ben.”

Walsh echoed their sentiment, saying, “[Ben]’s a genuine guy. Some people on this show [seem] really nice and know all the things, and behind the scenes they’re not as nice as people think. Ben is a really nice guy. I’ve always said that. Andrea is a lovely guy, too.”

Be sure to tune in to AXS TV for even more unforgettable performances, dramatic eliminations, and all-star guest appearances, as THE X FACTOR UK returns with two all-new episodes this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the results show on Monday at 8 p.m. ET.